Just days after the Virginia Tech shooting, miami lawer and anti-videogame crusader jack thompson went on the air stating that he had no doubt that videogames were involved. during investigation of the shooting, he was told by one of cho's roomates that cho seemed to be obsessed with writing on his computer. jack thompson translates "writing" to playing violent video games, and then goes on television stating that he was told that cho was constantly immersed in violent computer games.

        to jack thompson, i sent this email...

  Dear Mr. Thompson,

I write to you, not in the name of harassment or
criticism, but rather to engage in clean, civilized
conversation with the gaming world’s biggest foe.

First, I’d like to ask you something I’ve never been
quite so sure about. What exactly is your motive? I’ve
read many articles of your trials, and seen many
videos of you facing off with some well-known people
of the game industry, and your “mission” always seems
to fluctuate between banning the sale of violent video
games to minors, and banning the sale of violent video
games altogether. Is banning the sale to minors as far
as you wish to go, or is it just a first step in an
ongoing crusade to wipe violent games off the face of
the planet?

Next, I’d like to express to you my own opinions on
violent video games. I do agree with you to some
extent.  I think that if a troubled, abused or
disturbed young teen was to pick up a violent video
game, he/she (most likely he, that’s just the way
things are) might be encouraged to “copy” their game
character’s behaviors.  You seem to agree with this,
too.  If I recall correctly, I believe that in one
video you yourself stated that a perfect little angel
doesn’t just pick up a game and decide to go kill
people.

If all this is true, then shouldn’t we be seeking out
what causes these people to become so troubled in the
first place? After all, tens of thousands of teens
play video games (many of which are violent) on a
daily basis, and very few go out shooting people.

Moving on and closing up, I’d like to leave you with
one final question. Every generation has a popular
form of media that is used to blame all the problems
of the world on; my generation’s being video games,
and the generation before me being rock music.  I’m
sure you know them well, having crusaded against them
both at their time of popularity. My question to you
is this: Are you sure you aren’t putting so much blame
on videogames just because it’s the most popular form
of entertainment of its time, or do you truly see the
video game industry as a threat to modern day society?

Your pal,
                                                     
    Riley Coulter

 
i tried to remain calm and civilized as i've read many of his responses to others emails and he seems to be easily flustered, replying to one email stating "oh go play a suicide game and get real good at it won't you?"

                    hopefuly he will reply so that i can post it into this thread.   
                                                                                   

When all else fails, blame the video games, cause it's the easy way out!

What about violent movies, graphic novels, etc?

When all else fails, blame the video games, cause it's the easy way out!

What about violent movies, graphic novels, etc?


exactly. the videogame industry is like the public bunching bag of blame! anyways, i've attempted to send the email to him repeatedly but i keep on getting an automatic response saying his mailbox is full. anyways, i'll keep trying, and if all else fails i'll just mail it to him.

Just days after the Virginia Tech shooting, miami lawer and anti-videogame crusader jack thompson went on the air stating that he had no doubt that videogames were involved. during investigation of the shooting, he was told by one of cho's roomates that cho seemed to be obsessed with writing on his computer. jack thompson translates "writing" to playing violent video games, and then goes on television stating that he was told that cho was constantly immersed in violent computer games.

        to jack thompson, i sent this email...

  Dear Mr. Thompson,

I write to you, not in the name of harassment or
criticism, but rather to engage in clean, civilized
conversation with the gaming world’s biggest foe.

First, I’d like to ask you something I’ve never been
quite so sure about. What exactly is your motive? I’ve
read many articles of your trials, and seen many
videos of you facing off with some well-known people
of the game industry, and your “mission” always seems
to fluctuate between banning the sale of violent video
games to minors, and banning the sale of violent video
games altogether. Is banning the sale to minors as far
as you wish to go, or is it just a first step in an
ongoing crusade to wipe violent games off the face of
the planet?

Next, I’d like to express to you my own opinions on
violent video games. I do agree with you to some
extent.  I think that if a troubled, abused or
disturbed young teen was to pick up a violent video
game, he/she (most likely he, that’s just the way
things are) might be encouraged to “copy” their game
character’s behaviors.  You seem to agree with this,
too.  If I recall correctly, I believe that in one
video you yourself stated that a perfect little angel
doesn’t just pick up a game and decide to go kill
people.

If all this is true, then shouldn’t we be seeking out
what causes these people to become so troubled in the
first place? After all, tens of thousands of teens
play video games (many of which are violent) on a
daily basis, and very few go out shooting people.

Moving on and closing up, I’d like to leave you with
one final question. Every generation has a popular
form of media that is used to blame all the problems
of the world on; my generation’s being video games,
and the generation before me being rock music.  I’m
sure you know them well, having crusaded against them
both at their time of popularity. My question to you
is this: Are you sure you aren’t putting so much blame
on videogames just because it’s the most popular form
of entertainment of its time, or do you truly see the
video game industry as a threat to modern day society?

Your pal,
                                                     
    Riley Coulter

 
i tried to remain calm and civilized as i've read many of his responses to others emails and he seems to be easily flustered, replying to one email stating "oh go play a suicide game and get real good at it won't you?"

                    hopefuly he will reply so that i can post it into this thread.   
                                                                                   


Damn fine letter. Let us know how he responds.. oh.. and if you find his home address.. let me know it.. me and my friend Brick wouldn't mind seeing him  ;)

Damn fine letter. Let us know how he responds.. oh.. and if you find his home address.. let me know it.. me and my friend Brick wouldn't mind seeing him  ;)


  thanks, and yeah, i know his address...

uh-oh, it seems he recently changed his email. to many ranting emails from gamers like me I suppose! i can't seem to find his current email though. ay bit of help would be appreciated. again though, if all else fails, i could just take advantage of the good old U.S. postal system!

uh-oh, it seems he recently changed his email. to many ranting emails from gamers like me I suppose! i can't seem to find his current email though. ay bit of help would be appreciated. again though, if all else fails, i could just take advantage of the good old U.S. postal system!


Hey nothing would wake him up more than knowing someone who endorses violent video games knows his address :)

I love violent video games, I play them all night long. I work at a police station and take pleasure in cyber cop killing. that doesn't mean I want to or am going to kill my co-workers. Its nothing more than entertainment. No one in their right mind wants to go do these things in real life.  I think those of us who aren't crazy play these games because we can't do these things in the real world. The ones who do go out into the world and kill just happen to play the games too.

are they playing the gameblame game?

jack thompson translates "writing" to playing violent video games, and then goes on television stating that he was told that cho was constantly immersed in violent computer games.

You'd think that as a lawyer he'd have some idea about veracity and not misrepresenting evidence... Come to think of it, he may well have been told that, but who's to say what evidence the person who told him had.

Anyway, reading this inspired this:

If there's violence and you hate it - blame the games
For they ought to be X-rated - blame the games
When of shootings there's a spate, it
Sends you fuming in debate, it
Means you ought to be sedated - blame the games

...there's three more verses posted to amiright, should hit the website tomorrow.  Will add a link when it turns up :)

You'd think that as a lawyer he'd have some idea about veracity and not misrepresenting evidence... Come to think of it, he may well have been told that, but who's to say what evidence the person who told him had.

Anyway, reading this inspired this:

If there's violence and you hate it - blame the games
For they ought to be X-rated - blame the games
When of shootings there's a spate, it
Sends you fuming in debate, it
Means you ought to be sedated - blame the games

...there's three more verses posted to amiright, should hit the website tomorrow.  Will add a link when it turns up :)


very nice. by the way, the email isn't exactly working out, so i'll be putting it in the mail box tonight. hopefully i have the right shipping address.  :-\\

Snail mail always slows things down... best of luck getting through.

The whole thing's here: If There's Violence & You Hate It(Blame the Games)

Update: i sent the letter last saturday, the 19th. so far i've had no response. i gave him the choice of responding via email, or mail. i doubt he'll use email. he seems to want to keep that address a secret. my biggest fear is that i don't even have the right shipping address!  :-\\ 

don't think he's planning on responding. oh, well. i tried

Blaming video games for societies problems is possibly the most IDIOTIC move ever.  Violence has been around FAR before pong was ever programmed.  When people dont understand or fear something, they're quick to point fingers.  Jack Thompson just fears all the stupid crap that goes on in society, because the 2000's suck.